Machine for forming clay tower-spirals



B. M. HOOD.

MACHINE FOR FORMING CLAY TOWER SPIRALS.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 2, 1918.

1 346,786, Patnted July 13, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

B. M.'HOOD.

MACHINE FOR FORMING CLAY TOWER SPIRALS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, l9l8.

Patented July 13, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

B. M. HOOD.

MACHINE FOR FORMING GLAY TOWER SPIRALS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1918.

Patented July 13, 1920.

4 smears-swan 3.

B. M. HOOD.

MACHINE FOR FORMING CLAY TOWER SPIRALS.

Patented July 13, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I I P 1 IIW - UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN MIFFLIN HOOD, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

MACHINE FOR FORMING CLAY TOWERr-SPIRALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1920.

Application filed November 2, 1918. Serial No. 260,834.

amachine for forming clay tower spirals, and it consists 1n-a novel arrangement and construction of parts, the detail of construction will be hereinafter fully described and set forth in the claims. 4

The object of my invention is to construct a machine in which is placed a quantity of plastic clay, said clay by means of the mechanism being hollowed, intermingled and mixed, and advanced forward into dies, which dies are equipped with a rotating spiral which forms on the interior of a clay spiral an integral spiral wall. This product after being formed by the machine is then baked and vitrified and is used in connection with acid making.

A further object of my invention is to construct a machine which will simultaneously mix a plastic clay and advance it forward by a "determined speed as well as operating in spiral forming mechanism at a speed'independent of the remaining mechanism.

Figure 1, is a top plan view of my complete machine.

Fig. 2, is a side view of the same.

Fig. 3, is a detail elevation.

Fig. 4, is a front elevation.

Fig. 5, is a top plan view with parts broken away and in section.

Fig. 6, is a detail view showing the hollow shaft made use of in connection with my machine.

Fig. 7, is a detail front view of the spiral forming die.

Fig. 8, is a horizontal sectional view of the same. i

Fig. 9, is a detail view with portions of the hollow shaft, together with thespiral and conveyer for advancing the clay.

In the construction of my machine I pro-.

vide a suitable base 10 on which is mounted a standard or frame 11. On the upper portion of which is supported the conveyer housing 12, a portion of which terminates into a hopper 13 in which the plastic clay 5 is fed.

On the base 10 is also mounted standards 14, which are provided with journal bearings in which are supported a pair of shafts 15 which run horizontally with the machine and are likewise supported in journal bearlngs 16, located in close proximity with a conveyer housing, and said shafts extending into the housing in a manner as that shown. The pair of shafts 15 are of hollow construction, the shaft 17 of the pair is provided with a large gear wheel 18, a small gear Wheel 19 and a gear pinion 20. This gear p nion 20 is arranged in mesh with a gear p1n1on 21, formed on the hollow shaft 22 which is one of the pair. 7

Within the hollow shaft 17 is supported a second hollow shaft 23, its rear end being provided with a large gear wheel 24, said wheel being arranged in mesh with a small gear wheel 25, which is mounted on the drive shaft 26, having bearing in journals 27 and 28 formed on the standards. l/Vithin the hollow shaft 22, is a second hollow shaft 29, on the rear end of this shaft is a gear pinion 30 which is arranged in mesh 'with the gear wheel 19 supported on the shaft 17.

On the drive shaft 26 is located a drive pulley 31, which is controlled by a clutch mechanism 32, and the end of the shaft 26 is supported in the journal 33 supported on the standard 34-.

On the hollow shafts 17 and 22 and located within the conveyer housings are located a plurality of sleeves 35, each of which is provided with a wing 36; these wings are arranged at such a length and angle and the sleeves are set in locked position on the shaft so that the wings are staggered so that the clay within the compartment is properly agitated during the rotation of the shafts, and at the same time advancing the clay forwardly within the housing.

In the front part 37 of the housing I place upon the shaft similar sleeves 38, which are provided with spiral wings 39 which have a tendency to grip the clay-and advance it forward toward the die casing 40.

and buts up tightly against a washer 45 which acts as a seal or preventative from the plastic clay forcing its way into. the hollow shafts.

The inner hollow shafts are provided with 49; this is for. the purpose of properly bracing the machine on account of the excessive pressure required for properly handling the plastic clay.

The clutch mechanism which controls the pulley wheel 31 is manipulated by the hand lever 50 connected to the rod 51, which in turn is connected to the lever 52 which has connection with the clutch apparatus and is pivoted at its upper end to the supporting arm 53.

I will not go into the detail description of the die mechanism and spiral as this articular structure is the invention of ohn Walter Thomas, who is simultaneously filing an application for patent on this structure and who is in business relations with me in the manufacture of the clay tower spiral product.

The essential feature of my invention and the difference in construction between it and the Mueller patent is the arrangement of the hollow shafts, one operating within the other and at different speeds, the clay being advanced under pressure at one speed while the spiral is operated at a greater speed so as to properly form the spiral Wall of the product while the clay cylinder is passed out through the die cylinder.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

As rotation is imparted to the pulley wheel- 31, and by the manipulation of the clutch the machine is then placed in operation; the heavy gear pinion 54 which is mounted on the shaft 26 and meshing with the large gear 18 will rotate the shaft 17, likewise the gear pinion 20 which meshes with the gear tion to the pinion 30which .is mounted on the inner hollow shaft 29 of the hollow shaft 22; and motion is imparted to the hollow shaft 23 by the gear wheel 24 which meshes with the gear wheel 25 mounted on the shaft 26, the size of these gears being such as to place the inner hollow shafts in rotation at a speed somewhat, greater than the speed of the outer hollow shafts, and b the rotation of the two inner hollow sha s the spirals connected thereto are rotated in o posite directions at the speed'to properly conform with the movement of the plastic clafi through the dies.

aving fully described my invention what I claim is:

1. A machine for making clay tower spirals, comprising a hopper in whlch is placed plastic clay, conveyers located therein for advancing the clay, a hollow shaft, '9. second hollow shaft operating within the first hollow shaft for controlling the movement of the clay and operating a spiral for producing a cylindrical clay body with an interior spiral wall, the inner hollow shaft acting as an oiling device, substantially as specified.

2. A machine of the character described comprising a pair of hollow shafts mounted in bearings, gears mounted on the same, a

second hollow shaft and filled with oil mounted within each of the first mentioned hollow shafts, gears connected to the same and controlled thereby, a spiral rotated by 3. A machine of the character described comprising a pair of hollowshafts mounted in bearings, a conveyer housing through which the same extends, conveyers mounted on the shafts and within the housing, a second hollow shaft mounted within the first hollow shaft and filled with oil, spirals connected thereon and operating at'the end of the conveyer housing, a plurality of gears mounted on the inner and outer hollow shafts for rotating the same at diflerent speeds, substantially as specified. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN 'MIEFLIN HOOD.

Witnesses:

J. J. NEER, G. W. KEEIJNG. 

